Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceEast Rift Valley to Taitung
Make a six-day one-way journey through Yilan, Hualien, Ruisui, Chishang and Luye to Taitung—only when the full route is officially open.
- Allow
- 6 days
- Route
- 333 km
- Drive time
- 5 hr 56 min
- Stops
- 7
This is the great east-side journey, and the only one here that should be booked as a one-way rental. After Yilan, the officially open Suhua corridor reaches Hualien; Highway 9 then follows the East Rift Valley through hot-spring country, rice fields and low green ranges toward Taitung.
Earthquakes, typhoons, rockfall and repair work can change the route without regard for a travel plan. Confirm the entire corridor on the Highway Bureau’s 168 service before pickup and again each morning. Do not attempt Taroko or any closed road, do not bypass controls, and switch to rail or postpone when authorities advise it.
The road, in one glance
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Drawing the route…
The route earns
its distance
Each pin is selected as a place to do something—not merely proof that you passed through.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceTaipei
Begin only after confirming one-way rental terms and the full east-coast corridor’s official status.
Taipei, officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of Taiwan. Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southwest of the northern port city of Keelung. Most of the city rests on the Taipei Basin, an ancient lakebed.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceYilan
A night on the plain keeps the first day short before the more demanding coast.
Yilan City (Mandarin pinyin: Yílán Shì; Hokkien POJ: Gî-lân-chhī) is a county-administered city and the county seat of Yilan County, Taiwan. The city lies on the north side of the Lanyang River.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceHualien
A Pacific-facing city provides a calm base before turning inland through the rift valley.
Hualien (pinyin: Huālián Shì; Wade-Giles: Hua¹-lien² Shih⁴; Hokkien POJ: Hoa-lian-chhī or Hoa-liân-chhī) is a county-administered city and the county seat of Hualien County, Taiwan. It is located on the east coast of Taiwan on the Pacific Ocean, and has a population of 99,458 inhabitants.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceRuisui
Hot springs and a broad agricultural valley slow the middle of the journey.
Ruisui Township is a rural township located in southern Hualien County, Taiwan, and has a population of 10,944 inhabitants in 11 villages. The population is composed of Hoklo, Hakka, and Taiwanese aborigines, most of whom are Amis. Agriculture and tourism are major industries.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceChishang
Rice fields and mountain horizons make the valley’s most graceful cycling stop.
Chishang is a farming township in Taitung County at the southern end of Taiwan's East Rift Valley. Broad rice fields, irrigation ponds and quiet cycling lanes surround a compact town nationally associated with high-quality rice and railway lunch boxes.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceLuye Highlands
Tea fields and a high terrace overlook the southern end of the rift valley.
Luye Township (Chinese: 鹿野鄉; pinyin: Lùyě Xiāng; Wade–Giles: Lu4-yeh3 Hsiang1) is a rural township in Taitung County, Taiwan. It is located in the Huadong Valley.
Photo: Wikimedia contributors · See sourceTaitung
The relaxed southeastern city closes the drive with coast, food and rail connections onward.
Taitung City (Chinese: 臺東市; pinyin: Táidōng Shì; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-tang-chhī) is a county-administered city and the county seat of Taitung County, Taiwan. It lies on the southeast coast of Taiwan facing the Pacific Ocean, southwest of the Beinan River estuary. Taitung City is the most populous subdivision of Taitung County and it is one of the major cities on the east coast of the island.
Drive the conditions,
not the itinerary.
Proceed only when Highway Bureau 168 confirms the full corridor open. Never enter Taroko or any controlled road, and reroute, use rail or postpone after earthquakes, typhoons or rockfall.
Checked against
the people who run it
Distances and driving times are planning estimates. Conditions, closures, ferries, permits and park rules can change, so check the linked official guidance before setting out.